MnDOT warns of open waters near Minnesota River Bridge

Snowmobilers advised to avoid construction area

Fritz Busch

Staff Writer

fbusch@nujournal.com

NEW ULM — The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) warns the public, especially snowmobilers, that Highway 14/15 Minnesota River Bridge construction in New Ulm will result in open water on the river throughout the winter.

The highway department will place buoys to keep sportsmen away from equipment and open water that allows project construction to continue this winter.

An aeration system will keep the river from freezing, allowing construction crews to move forward with pier construction. This allows crews to catch up on the Minnesota River Bridge work that was delayed due to river flooding earlier this year.

In addition, work on the new Highway 14/15 interchange will continue.

The state highway department reminds the public that the New Ulm Gateway project lasts two years. The current detour using Nicollet County Road 37, 20th Street South in New Ulm, will remain in place over the winter.

A new detour will be necessary in the spring of 2019 to complete the Highway 14/15 interchange. The proposed detour of Nicollet County Road 5 (Fort Road) and Nicollet County Road 12 has been modified to include a segment of Nicollet County Road 21 between Nicollet and Courtland, due to the flooding of CR 12, north of Highway 14 this year.

The Highway 14/15 New Ulm Gateway project addressed intersection safety, aging bridges, poor pavement conditions and occasional road flooding around New Ulm. Construction began in 2017. Most of the work and detours take place in 2018 and 2019.

A short segment of Highway 14/15 (7th Street) from Broadway to Front Street opened Oct. 26. The project includes work on three bridges, 7th Street street scape and landscaping.

For more information including a project web camera, visit www.mndot/gov/newulm.

A video highlighting the project, 2018 detour and a construction staging map can be found at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d7/projects/14newulmtomankato/